What Are Dark Spots and How to Get Rid of Them ?

Dark spots, also known as hyperpigmentation and age spots, are a common skin problem that grow increasingly more common with age. They can be frustrating to deal with as they seemingly appear out of nowhere, and they can also be a somewhat embarrassing indicator of age.

What Causes Dark Spots

Dark spots are the result of the overproduction of melanin, or skin pigment. It’s not fully understood whythey develop, but aging and UV light exposure – even artificial UV light, like tanning beds – are major causes.

They can develop anywhere, but they are mostly likely to appear on the parts of the body that receive the most sun exposure, including:

The face

The backs of the hands

The shoulders

The arms

The back

Skin Diseases

There are several different skin conditions and diseases that cause dark spots.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: Skin discoloration following an inflammatory lesion, like acne.

Melasma: Also known as pregnancy mask.

Riehl’s Melanosis: A form of contact dermatitis believed to be caused by sun exposure.

Poikiloderma of Civatte: A benign condition that turns parts of the neck a reddish brown color.

Erythromelanosis Follicularis: A condition characterized by reddish brown pigmentation of the face and neck.

Linea Nigra: A dark, vertical line that appears lengthwise down the middle of the abdomen during pregnancy.

Medications

Certain medications cause dark spots. Some cause dark spots because they make the skin sensitive to sun exposure, while others cause dark spots to appear without sun exposure.

Some repeat offenders include:

Estrogens

Tetracyclines

Amiodarone

Phenytoin

Phenothiazines

Sulfonamides

UV Exposure
Hyperpigmentation really starts to take hold during middle age when the skin finally starts to show the consequences of all those days spent in the sun without SPF, among other abuses. By now you should know that sun exposure comes with major risks and requires proper precautions, like limiting time spent in the sun and applying SPF regularly.
UV rays cause a multitude of skin issues, from the serious – skin cancer – to the more minor – dark spots. Dark spots that appear due to UV light include:

Melasma
Solar lentigines (liver spots)
Ephelides (freckles)

Other Causes of Dark Spots

Pregnancy

Liver disease

Addison’s disease

Hemochromatosis

Pituitary tumors

How to Treat Dark Spots
Dark spots don’t hurt and they have the same texture as the rest of your skin. They’re harmless, but there is a possibility that a dark spot could be cancerous. Visit your dermatologist annually for a skin checkup. If they see a potentially harmful dark spot, or any type skin pigmentation for that matter, they can perform a biopsy to check the skin for cancer and other abnormalities.

Generally, however, dark spots don’t pose any health risks, so you don’t have to get rid of them, although many people choose to for cosmetic purposes. Dark spots can be diminished or removed completely through prescribed medication, medical procedures, and at-home treatments.

Prescription bleaching creams gradually diminish the appearance of dark spots, usually over a period of several months.
However, they contain abrasive ingredients that make the skin extremely sensitive to UV exposure, so it’s very important to wear SPF consistently throughout treatment.

If you’re interested in a medical procedure, talk to your dermatologist about choosing the right method for your skin type. Medical procedures are used to treat dark spots on any part of the body. They include:

Laser treatment

Chemical Peels

Microdermabrasion

Cryosurgery

There are also a number of over-the-counter products that treat dark spots. In fact, you probably can’t make it through a commercial break without seeing an ad for one. These products aren’t as immediately effective as a medical procedure. They might diminish the appearance of dark spots, but they might not be able to completely remove them. Look for creams that contain ingredients like, alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid, hydroquinone, deoxyarbutin and kojic acid.